Photographic print drier



Feb. 1, 1938.

v. L. POLSON 2,106,931

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT DRIER Filed Aug. 24, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor ".7 'ZL. Pa/son I gzmwm Aiiorneys Feb. 1, 1938. v. POLSON PHOTOGRAPHIC FRI NT DR IER Filed Aug. 24, 193

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 z'l .11.??083071/ fliwwzem Attorneys Patented Feb. 1, 1938 PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIG PRINT DRIER Virgil L. Poison, East Moline, 111. Application August 24, 1937, Serial No. 160,682

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a. drying device for photographic prints, the general object of the invention being to provide means for quickly drying the prints and giving them a glossy surface.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in 0 the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a view looking toward one side of the device.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the opposite side thereof.

Figure 3 is an end view of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged edge view of the drum.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a section on the line 'I'| of Figure 4.

In these drawings the letter A indicates an upright frame, the top of which supports the stationary shaft l which is horizontally arranged and on which is rotatably supported the drum B which is composed of the end pieces 2 and the rim 3, the edges of the end pieces extending beyond the rim as shown. Clamps C are carried by the drum for holding the squeegee plates D on the rim of the drum as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. These plates or boards are prefer ably chromium plated and are adapted to have the wet prints pressed thereon so that when the prints are dried they will drop off the boards or plates and said faces of the plates will impart a glossy surface to the prints. Each clamp C is composed of a plate 8 of considerable width with one edge offset as shown at 9 so as to leave a space between itself and the adjacent part of the rim of the drum and a second plate In which is adjustably held to the opposite edge of the plate 8 by the headed screws II which pass through inclined slots [2 in the plate l0 through holes in the plate 8 and the rim of the drum. Thus the plate H! can be moved to a position where it will lie entirely over a plate 8 so that an edge of the squeegee plate can be placed against the edge of the plate 8 the other edge of the squeegee plate fitting under the offset part 9 of another clamp. Then the plate i0 is moved forwardly so that it will overlap the first edge of the squeegee plate and thus hold the squeegee plate in position. A handle [3 is connected to each plate l0 atone end thereof and passes through a hole in one of the end pieces so that by pulling or pushing upon this handle the plate II) can be adjusted into operative or inoperative position.

A gear [4 is connected withone of the end plates 2 of the drum and an endless chain I5 passes over said gear or sprocket and over a sprocket IS on a shaft H which is supported in a bracket [8 fixed to a platform I9 at the lower end of the frame A. A motor M is supported by the platform and its shaft is connected by the chain and sprockets shown generally at to the shaft II.

A chute 2| is supported in the frame A and extends from a point to one side of the drum downwardly under the drum and has its lower end projecting from an end of the frame so that a receptacle can be placed under the lower end of the chute to receive the prints dropping from the drum into the chute.

A rack 22 is also supported by the frame for receiving the squeegee plates D, the rack having a hook-shaped lower end 22 for engaging the lower edges of the plates D resting on the inclined part of the rack. The rack is so located as to receive the plates detached from the drum.

One end of the shaft I is connected by a valve 23 to a gas mixer 24, a pipe 25 extending into the mixer to supply gas to the shaft I when the valve 23 is open, the mixer 24 admitting air to the gas flowing into the shaft I, in the usual manner. Within the drum the shaft I is provided with the jets 26'for the escape of the mixture and the end plates 2 are provided with the holes 26' for the admission of air to support combustion. One hole is made large enough to form a hand hole which is covered by a door 21.

Thus it will be seen that the prints are placed in a wet condition on the boards D and the boards are connected by the clamps C with the rim of the drum so that the prints will be dried by the heat from the gases burning within the drum as the drum is revolved by the motor. This motor should be a low speed one. The prints, as they dry, drop from the plates D into the chute which will deposit them into a receptacle placed at the lower end of the chute. After the plates D have had the prints removed therefrom they are released from the drum by manipulating the plates I 0 of the clamps by the handles l3 so that the plates will drop upon the rack. The empty plates can then be refilled with prints and placed back on the drum so that the prints can be easily and quickly dried and a large number of prints can be handled by the machine.

It is thought from. the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus for drying photographic prints comprising a supporting frame, a drum rotatably supported thereby, means for rotating invention, what is the drum, a plurality of squeegee plates, means for removably holding the plates to the rim of the drum, means for heatingthe drum, a chute carried by the frame and extending under the drum for receiving the. prints dropping from the plates, and a rack for receiving and holding the plates released from the drum, the plate holding means including a stationary member for holding the rear edge of each plate between itself and a part of the drum and a manually releasable member for holding the front edge of each plate to the drum and said rack being located adjacent a downwardly movable part of the drum.

2. A photographic print drying apparatus comprising a drum, means for supporting the same for rotary movement, means for rotating the drum, a plurality of plates on which the wet prints are placed, clamps for removably holding the plates to the rim of the drum and means for, heating the drum, said clamps each comprising a plate extending across the rim of the drum and having one edge offset outwardly and a second plate slidably arranged on the first plate for projecting beyond the opposite edge of the first plate when in operative position and extending over the first plate when in inoperative position and a handle connected with the second plate.

VIRGIL L. POLSON. 

